Sail and method of construction

ABSTRACT

A sail and its construction is shown wherein the sail is formed by a plurality of triangular panels each with an apex or tip located at the tack of the sail. The panels are formed of predetermined shape having contoured edges formed to provide a built-in pocket.

United States Patent Jalbert 14 1 Aug. 1, 1972 [54] SAIL AND METHOD OF OTHER PUBLICATIONS TR TION CONS UC Yachting Publication, Jan. 1963; Page 41 relied on [72] Inventor: Domina C. Jalbert, 170 N.W. 20th Boca Raton 33432 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix [22] Filed: Aug. 11, 1970 Attorney-Jack N. McCarthy [21] Appl. No.: 62,958 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 14/103 A sail and its construction is shown wherein the sail is [51] Int. Cl. ..B63h 9/04 formed y a plurality of triangular panels each with an [58] Field of Search ..114/39, 102, 103 p or p located at the tack of the rail The Panels are formed of predetermined shape having contoured 56] References Cited edges formed to provide a built-in pocket.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 541,231 6/1895 Herreshoff ..l14/103 25 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures minnows 1 we 3.680.519

SHEET 2 OF 2 SAIL AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of sailing and more particularly to a three-dimensional sail; that is, a sail having a built-in pocket. Some prior art patents of similar sails having a built-in pocket or pockets are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 2,159,923; 2,499,598 and 2,565,219.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a sail having a built-in pocket of a predetermined contour placed at a desired location. Another object of this invention is to provide a method of constructing a sail having a pocket of predetermined contour at a desired location. With this construction, a more efficient suit of sail can be made with safety features included. This sail permits the location of the maximum depth of the pocket at a point which would be lower than the normal center of effort of a sail of the same size which would reduce the heeling force. This construction also reduces the possibility of blowout. This sail construction will also permit better windward operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view showing a side projection of a main sail.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a side projection of a jib.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the panels of a main sail projection of FIG. 1 exploded with cambered portions of material called panel extensions added to form a sail by the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a main sail 2 in solid lines with a plurality of panels 20 through 28 formed as triangles to permit a desired shape to be given to the finished sail. Panel 20 has one edge 14 which forms the luff of the sail while panel 28 has one edge which forms the foot of the sail. It is noted that all of the triangular panels have an apex or tip located at the tack of the sail, the forward lower comer. A tack patch 6 can be used for rigidity and for mounting of the sail. A clew patch 8 and head patch 10 can also be used at the lower after comer and upper corner, respectively, of the sail.

While the sail 2 shown in FIG. 1 has a leech shown in solid line as substantially straight, the leech can be of other shapes such as shown by the dot and dash line 12. The construction of a sail will be described using the configuration having the dot-dash leech shown in FIG. 1. To aid in this, FIG. 3 is shown with the panels of FIG. 1 exploded with material called panel extensions added to the panels to arrive at the desired built-in pocket.

To construct a sail in accordance with the invention, patterns can be formed. This is done by first laying out the side projection of the sail for the sailboat on which the sail is to be used. In this case, we will assume that the side projection of the sail is that shown in FIG. 1 with the dot-dash leech. Having the projection laid out, a point 30 is selected where the maximum depth of a built-in pocket is desired. After the point 30 has been decided upon, the sail is divided into a plurality of triangular panels, each with an apex at the tack. As shown in FIG. 1, it was decided to have nine panels with the end panels having approximately one-half of the angle size of the remaining panels at their apex.

A curved line 32 is drawn from the luff 14 to the foot 15 through the point 30. The panels 20 through 28 are then cut out, forming the foundation of the final panel patterns. Panel extensions are added to the panels to arrive at patterns which will form the desired sail having a pocket of maximum depth at point 30. The extension added to a side of a panel is formed having a straight edge, or reference edge, to cooperate with the edge of the panel and a cambered edge which is located away from the reference edge. The maximum camber occurs where the line 32 intersects the reference edge of the panel. It is further noted that the adjacent panel extensions are substantially the same; that is, extension 20a is substantially the same as 21a. It is noted that this construction is carried out between every adjacent panel; that is, extension 21b is substantially the same as 2212, 22c is substantially the same as 23 0, right through to where 27h is substantially the same as 28h. While the panels 20 through 28 have just been described as cut out, a panel size and shape can be reproduced on pattern material and the panel extensions can be added to the reproduced panel by being drawn on the pattern material adjacent each side of the reproduced panel and then cut out to form a panel pattern of one piece. This is repeated for each panel 20 through 28. The panel patterns, whether made of one piece or several, are then placed over sail material and the finished sail panels are cut therearound. Where the edges of adjoining sail panels are to be sewn, additional material is allowed for sewing the panels formed so that when the edges are overlapped, the cooperating cambered edges of the adjacent panel extensions become juxtapositioned. The sail material should be substantially stretch-free. If only one sail is to be made the steps set forth for making one piece panel patternscan be used on sail material thereby forming finished sail panels.

While the curved line 32 may take many forms, it is felt that the best configuration for a combination of speed and safety is one which lies between 12 and 40 percent of the luff and foot, with the same relationship being held along the intervening seam lines. In FIG. 1, the curved line 32 was formed by drawing a line which approximately passed through the 25 percent point of the luff, foot and intervening seams from their apex.

The actual length of the maximum camber of each panel extension is determined by the maximum depth desired in the built-in pocket at point 30. If a pocket 8 inches deep is required, then it is necessary that the length of all the maximum cambers be such that when the panels are assembled, the desired 8 inches is obtained at point 30. Knowing the form of curved line 32, the length of each maximum camber becomes a mathematical problem. It is to be noted that while FIG. 3 shows the maximum camber to be identical throughout each panel extension, these lengths can be varied to obtain a tapered pocket. For example, the total distance necessary through the curved line 32 to obtain the desired pocket depth can be made up by maximum cambers of increasing size from the luff and foot of the sail to the center. In a construction such as this, the maximum camber of panel extensions 20a and 210 would be made small, as would those of panel extension 28h and 27h. The lengths would gradually increase until the largest maximum camber would be located on panel extensions 23d and 24d, and 24e and 25e. If an odd number of seams were used, then the center seam alone would have the panel extensions with the largest maximum camber.

The number of panels is determined by the size of the sail and the smoothness of curvature desired in the pocket; i.e., the greater the number of panels, the smoother the contour of the pocket. The size of the sail will govern the practical maximum number of panels which can be used considering modern methods of sail sewing.

FIG. 2 shows the invention applied to a jib 3 wherein the method of construction can be identical to that of the main sail. The jib 3 is shown with a plurality of panels formed as triangles with the top panel forming the luff 34 of the jib while the bottom panel forms the foot 35 of the jib. It is noted that the apex of the triangular panels is located at the tack of the sail, the forward lower corner. A tack patch 7 can be used for rigidity and for mounting of the jib. A clew patch 9 and head patch 11 can also be used at the lower after corner and upper corner, respectively, of the jib.

The projection of the jib is laid out, a point 50 is selected where the maximum depth of a built-in pocket is desired and after the point 50 has been decided upon, the jib is divided into a plurality of triangular panels, each with its apex at the tack. As shown in FIG. 2, it was decided to have six panels of approximately the same angle size at their apex. A curved line 52 is drawn from the luff 34 to the foot 35 through the point 50. The panels are then cut out with panel extensions added in the same manner as for the main sail. In this construction, the curved line 52 was formed by an are drawn through the point 50 with the center being at the apex of the panels.

In a modification of the method of constructing a sail, the cambered edge can be formed as a predetermined curve. The predetermined curve could be used on each panel where the panel extensions are used with the length of the seam forming the reference line, the proportions of the curve remaining substantially the same for each panel at each seam. Known curves, or substantial portions thereof, can be used such as the airfoils described by reports of the former National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and other aeronautical testing laboratories. In using this modification, various known curves can be useduntil a sail is obtained having characteristics desired by the designer. For example, in controlling the curved line 32, known curves can be used having a maximum camber at approximately the 25 percent chord point, the chord in this context is related to the straight edge or reference edge of a panel, and could be used between panels 20 and 21, 21 and 22, 26 and 27, and 27 and 28, with known curves having a maximum camber at 30 percent being used between panels 22 and 23, 23 and 24, 24 and 25, and 25 and 26. Knowing the sail size and the predetermined contour of the cambered surface, here again the location and depth of the maximum pocket can be determined. It is to be understood that a sail designer may want to use a specific known airfoil curve for the panel extensions of his sail and let the pocket fall where it may, to derive any benefit he feels he can obtain from that airfoil.

I claim:

1. A method of forming sail patterns comprising the steps of (l) forming a side projection of a sail; (2) dividing the sail into a plurality of triangular panels each with an apex at a lower corner; (3) transferring each triangular panel at full size on to pattern material; and (4) adding panel extensions on the pattern material to the straight edge of a substantial number of said panels which extends from the apex forming triangular pattern panels, said panel extensions providing an outward curvature to the straight edge.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outward curvature is formed as a cambered line.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the maximum camber of the panel extensions occurs in the range of from 12 to 40 percent of the distance from the apex of the panels to the leech.

4. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said panel extensions are formed by using a predetermined airfoil curve.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower corner is the tack.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein adjacent panel extensions are substantially identical.

7. A method of forming a sail comprising steps of l forming a side projection of a sail; (2) dividing the sail into a plurality of triangular panels with their apex at a lower corner; (3) transferring each triangular panel on to pattern material; (4) adding panel extensions on the pattern material to the straight edge of a substantial number of said panels, forming triangular pattern panels, said panel extensions providing a curvature to the straight edge; (5) placing each triangular pattern panel with its panel extensions on sail cloth; and (6) cutting final sail panels allowing extra material at the edge for overlapping to provide for the panel sewing.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the outward curvature is formed as a cambered line.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the maximum camber of the panel extensions occurs in the range of from 12 to 40 percent of the distance'from the apex of the panels to the leech.

10. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said panel extensions are formed by using a predetermined airfoil curve.

11. A method as set forth in claim 7 with the following step (7) sewing said final sail panels together with adjacent sail panels having their lines of curvature substantially juxtapositioned.

12. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein adjacent panel extensions are substantially identical.

13. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the lower corner is the tack.

14. A method of forming sail panels comprising the steps of (l) forming a side projection of a sail; (2) dividing the sail into a plurality of triangular panels each with an apex at a lower corner; (3) transferring each triangular panel at full size on to sail material; and

(4) adding panel extensions on the sail material to the straight edge of a substantial number of said panels which extends from the apex forming final triangular sail panels, said panel extensions providing an outward curvature to the straight edge.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the lower comer is the tack.

16. A sail having a built-in pocket comprising a plurality of panels of sail cloth defining the major area of said sail, a plurality of said panels being triangular in shape, said triangular panels being adjacent each other, each of said panels having an apex at a lower corner of the sail, each of said panels having a side opposite from said apex, each of said panels having its sides from the lower corner to the opposite side each forming a curved line, said curved lines each curving outwardly in the plane of each panel away from each other, adjacent sides of adjacent panels being connected along said curved lines.

17. A sail having a built-in pocket comprising a plurality of panels of sailcloth defining the major area of said sail, said panels being triangular in shape, each of said triangular sailcloth panels having an apex located at a lower comer of the sail, each of said triangular sailcloth panels having a side opposite from said apex, said triangular sailcloth panels having curved sides extending from said apex to the opposite side, said curved sides of each triangular sailcloth panel curving away from said panel, adjacent panels being connected along adjacent curved sides between the apexes and opposite sides of the adjacent panels.

18. A sail as set forth in claim 17 wherein each curved side of the triangular sailcloth panels is a cambered line having the maximum camber located at a predetermined point along the length of the side.

19. A sail as set forth in claim 18 wherein the maximum camber between all adjacent triangular sailcloth panels lies between the range of 12 to 40 percent of the distance from the apex of the adjacent panels to the opposite sides of the adjacent panels.

20. A sail as set forth in claim 17 wherein the curved sides of the triangular sailcloth panels is a cambered line having a predetermined shape.

21. A sail as set forth in claim 20 wherein the cambered line is the upper line of an airfoil section.

22. A sail as set forth in claim 18 wherein the maximum camber varies between different pairs of adjacent panels.

23. A sail as set forth in claim 22 wherein the maximum camber varies from a minimum between the panels adjacent the luff and foot of the sail to a maximum between adjacent panels at the center of the sail.

24. A sail as set forth in claim 18 wherein the maximum camber between adjacent panels lies at approximately 25 percent of the distance from the apex of the adjacent panels to the opposite sides of the adjacent panels.

25. A sail as set forth in claim 17 wherein the lower corner of the sail is the tack of the sail. 

1. A method of forming sail patterns comprising the steps of (1) forming a side projection of a sail; (2) dividing the sail into a plurality of triangular panels each with an apex at a lower corner; (3) transferring each triangular panel at full size on to pattern material; and (4) adding panel extensions on the pattern material to the straight edge of a substantial number of said panels which extends from the apex forming triangular pattern panels, said panel extensions providing an outward curvature to the straight edge.
 2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outward curvature is formed as a cambered line.
 3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the maximum camber of the panel extensions occurs in the range of from 12 to 40 percent of the distance from the apex of the panels to the leech.
 4. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said panel extensions are formed by using a predetermined airfoil curve.
 5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower corner is the tack.
 6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein adjacent panel extensions are substantially identical.
 7. A method of forming A sail comprising steps of (1) forming a side projection of a sail; (2) dividing the sail into a plurality of triangular panels with their apex at a lower corner; (3) transferring each triangular panel on to pattern material; (4) adding panel extensions on the pattern material to the straight edge of a substantial number of said panels, forming triangular pattern panels, said panel extensions providing a curvature to the straight edge; (5) placing each triangular pattern panel with its panel extensions on sail cloth; and (6) cutting final sail panels allowing extra material at the edge for overlapping to provide for the panel sewing.
 8. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the outward curvature is formed as a cambered line.
 9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the maximum camber of the panel extensions occurs in the range of from 12 to 40 percent of the distance from the apex of the panels to the leech.
 10. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said panel extensions are formed by using a predetermined airfoil curve.
 11. A method as set forth in claim 7 with the following step (7) sewing said final sail panels together with adjacent sail panels having their lines of curvature substantially juxtapositioned.
 12. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein adjacent panel extensions are substantially identical.
 13. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the lower corner is the tack.
 14. A method of forming sail panels comprising the steps of (1) forming a side projection of a sail; (2) dividing the sail into a plurality of triangular panels each with an apex at a lower corner; (3) transferring each triangular panel at full size on to sail material; and (4) adding panel extensions on the sail material to the straight edge of a substantial number of said panels which extends from the apex forming final triangular sail panels, said panel extensions providing an outward curvature to the straight edge.
 15. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the lower corner is the tack.
 16. A sail having a built-in pocket comprising a plurality of panels of sail cloth defining the major area of said sail, a plurality of said panels being triangular in shape, said triangular panels being adjacent each other, each of said panels having an apex at a lower corner of the sail, each of said panels having a side opposite from said apex, each of said panels having its sides from the lower corner to the opposite side each forming a curved line, said curved lines each curving outwardly in the plane of each panel away from each other, adjacent sides of adjacent panels being connected along said curved lines.
 17. A sail having a built-in pocket comprising a plurality of panels of sailcloth defining the major area of said sail, said panels being triangular in shape, each of said triangular sailcloth panels having an apex located at a lower corner of the sail, each of said triangular sailcloth panels having a side opposite from said apex, said triangular sailcloth panels having curved sides extending from said apex to the opposite side, said curved sides of each triangular sailcloth panel curving away from said panel, adjacent panels being connected along adjacent curved sides between the apexes and opposite sides of the adjacent panels.
 18. A sail as set forth in claim 17 wherein each curved side of the triangular sailcloth panels is a cambered line having the maximum camber located at a predetermined point along the length of the side.
 19. A sail as set forth in claim 18 wherein the maximum camber between all adjacent triangular sailcloth panels lies between the range of 12 to 40 percent of the distance from the apex of the adjacent panels to the opposite sides of the adjacent panels.
 20. A sail as set forth in claim 17 wherein the curved sides of the triangular sailcloth panels is a cambered line having a predetermined shape.
 21. A sail as set forth in claim 20 wherein thE cambered line is the upper line of an airfoil section.
 22. A sail as set forth in claim 18 wherein the maximum camber varies between different pairs of adjacent panels.
 23. A sail as set forth in claim 22 wherein the maximum camber varies from a minimum between the panels adjacent the luff and foot of the sail to a maximum between adjacent panels at the center of the sail.
 24. A sail as set forth in claim 18 wherein the maximum camber between adjacent panels lies at approximately 25 percent of the distance from the apex of the adjacent panels to the opposite sides of the adjacent panels.
 25. A sail as set forth in claim 17 wherein the lower corner of the sail is the tack of the sail. 